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Monday, July 8 marked the official beginning at Melissa Memorial Hospital for Samantha Kuhlmann and Carolyn Cambridge.

Kuhlmann and Cambridge each entered orientation Monday morning as they begin their careers at the Holyoke hospital. Kuhlman will take over as the director of health information management and Cambridge will step in as a medical technologist. It will be the first post-college position for both ladies.

Samantha Kuhlmann, pictured at left, and Carolyn Cambridge began orientation Monday morning at MMH as both ladies begin their careers in Holyoke.

—Enterprise photo

Kuhlmann, originally from Roswell, N.M., received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan., majoring in health information management. She interned at Coffey Health Systems in Burlington, Kan.

Along with her degree and her internship, Kuhlmann also has pharmacy experience, working as a pharmacy technician for six years.

Her new position at MMH will have her acting as a privacy officer, working with the electronic health records, billing and documentation among several other responsibilities.

Cambridge received a Bachelor of Science degree from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tenn. While in school, she majored in medical laboratory science. Cambridge also completed six months of clinical rotations in the lab at Henry County Medical Center in Paris, Tenn.

Prior to entering college, Kuhlmann was an emergency medical technician in the Army for two and half years. She was stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina.

Cambridge was also a phlebotomist before college. Working alongside medical technicians and medical laboratory technicians, Cambridge first became interested in pursuing work as a medical technologist.

As a medical technologist, some of Cambridge’s responsibilities will include performing urinalysis, drug screen testing, blood work, hematology, rapid testing for strep and flu, phlebotomy and microbiology work.

Kuhlmann stated that while growing up, she was always around health care as her family owned a pharmacy. While in college, she minored in business and her position now is a way to combine the two areas of study.

Moving with her are her two dogs, Chewy, a Shih Tzu/Pomeranian mix, and Stanley, a Shih Tzu.

While both ladies have been in town less than a week, they are both excited for what the area has to offer.

Cambridge stated that small-town living is ideal for both her and her husband Josh, as she said they both get irritable in cities. Josh just recently got out of the military. He was stationed at Fort Campbell in Kentucky. He is planning to use his G.I. Bill to pursue an engineering degree.

Josh and Carolyn are joined in Holyoke by their daughters Halle Jo, 3, and Josie Belle, 3 months.

With little time to explore the area, Cambridge said the small-town friendliness is what drew her to Holyoke. She likes the idea of everybody knowing everybody and laughed as she said her daughters will never get in too much trouble as there will always be someone to tell on them.

Kuhlman was also seeking a smaller town to work in as she hails from Burlington, Kan., a town roughly the size of Holyoke.

“I wanted to end up in rural health care. Burlington is actually a lot like Holyoke, both hospital-wise and size-wise,” said Kuhlmann.

So far, she said the people of the area have been very welcoming.

Kuhlmann noted that she is especially excited for the job because MMH is a beta tester for the medical health records. The opportunity to work with the medical health records allows her to learn something new that was not an option while in college.

Cambridge said she is looking forward to meeting the laboratory staff and getting settled in.

With the stress of studying for her ASCP certification test in early September, Cambridge said she is also looking forward to that being completed.

After finding a house to buy, Cambridge also stated that she wants to get her children involved with 4-H.

Both women stated they are excited for the upcoming county fair as well. Kuhlmann also mentioned she is interested in checking out the local movie theater.

When not working, Kuhlmann runs an Etsy shop where she sells homemade dog toys and treats.

While Cambridge is signed on to the hospital for two years and Kuhlmann for three years, both are hoping their stay lasts for at least five years.